Sunday, April 11, 2010

Ancestor Approved Award

I want to express my gratitude to all four bloggers. I like to think my ancestors do approve of what I am doing here.

This award has been making the rounds on genealogy blogs. It was initiated a couple weeks ago by Leslie Ann Ballou at Ancestors Live Here

“As a recipient of this award I ask that you list ten things you have learned about any of your ancestors that has surprised, humbled, or enlightened you and pass it along to ten other bloggers who you feel are doing their ancestors proud.”

Ten things I've learned which have surprised, humbled, or enlightened.

1) My second great grandfather, Selig Feinstein, filed a patent2) Selig was a blacksmith for his first ten years in America. The family knew of his success in the real estate business, but that was actually his third career.3) I also discovered Selig was very active in the local religious charitable community, helping to form schools, and raise funds for the poor.4) My great grandfather, Herman Feinstein, drove a jitney taxi.5) My grandfather, Martin Deutsch, may have been a direct male descendant of Aaron6) My Denyer ancestors may have emigrated from America for a couple years, before America expanded to include them again. It’s unclear when they entered Texas.7) A bit of humor my great grandmother, Bertha Cruvant, liked to share, may have been rooted in Gematria.8) Seven out of eight of my paternal second great grandparents are buried in St. Louis, where I have lived most of my life.9) My eighth great grandfather, Myndert Frederickse, owned a slave.10) Hartley and Denyer relatives testified in front of The Dawes Commission, hoping they would be granted land based on their Choctaw ancestry. (Their application was rejected, as they didn't have enough proof.)

I’m going to refrain from choosing ten blogs. It’s too difficult of a decision. However, I will pass it on to one. This sounds like it would be a more difficult decision, but it’s easy – Leslie Ann Ballou, of Ancestors Live Here.

It appears, even though she began this, and passed it on to the first ten people, no one has given it back to her yet – or at least, she hasn’t listed her “ten things that surprised, humbled, or enlightened.” It's now her turn.